Originally posted by: tjaisv
So what's not okay about natural drugs? I assume you're just referring to the physical effects, so please explain.
Well, all drugs have side effects - natural or synthetic.
However, natural preparations are variable in potency, purity and their bioavailability. Whereas 'medicines' which are commercially prepared are formulated and precisely quality controlled to have identical levels of active ingredients, consistent high standards of purity and consistent bioavailability (how quickly and how effectively they get absorbed into the body).
In particular, there have been a number of reports of herbal remedies containing high levels of mercury, arseninc, pesticides and other concerning chemcials.
The concern many people have with supplements and 'herbal remedies' is that legally, these aren't classed as medicines - even though they may be potent drugs, this means that manufacturers are not legally obliged to record side effects, give accurate health warnings, or even make sure that the product is what it says it is.
As an example, I recently visited a health-food shop and had a look at some of the supplements:
I found several brands of echinacea - a herbal remedy claimed to help with the common cold, although this is not supported by evidence. None had any warnings about potential side effects or possible interactions; Echinacea is recognised as a trigger for serious asthma attacks, and is well known as a severe disrupter of metabolism which can cause serious problems with many prescription medications.
I also saw some herbal remedies for menopausal symptoms - red clover and some others. I couldn't find any decent warning on them other than not to take them during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Lol. However, there was no warning that they were a type of estrogen - and therefore that long term use may cause breast cancer, and that they must not be taken by anyone who has had breast cancer or cancer of the womb before.
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